Kenyan government faulted for silence on Gaza plight

On Sunday, legislators Hassan Omar (EALA), Farah Maalim (Dadaab), former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow, National Muslim Leaders Forum (Namlef) chairperson Abdullahi Abdi and Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton—together with several human rights groups—called on the Kenyan government to support Palestinians in Gaza who are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

“We must join a coalition of other countries to ensure that we support Palestine against the atrocities being committed by Israel. The people of Gaza must be free and have their country back,” said Mr Omar, who also serves as UDA Secretary General.

Mr Maalim called for sobriety, questioning why some nations, including Kenya, have not taken a strong stand against Israel’s actions.

“As a country, we should not be silent because nations need each other. What is happening in Gaza is genocide and must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. Israel must be called out not only by Kenya but by the whole world,” said the  legislator.

The two leaders spoke  at Uhuru Park during a tree-planting exercise and prayers for the victims of the Gaza war.

Calls for peace and humanitarian aid

Mr Abdi said that the population of Palestinians was shrinking daily due to killings and starvation, adding that urgent intervention was necessary.

“We thank people all over the world from Australia to Alaska, from Europe to South America ho have stood firm on the side of humanity. We ask them to continue until we see the freedom of the people of Palestine,” he said.

“Kenya should also take note of this. While we fight for our rights in this country, we must also fight for the rights of people everywhere,” he added.

Voice of Palestine coordinator Sheikh Said Kiptoo urged Kenyan Muslims not to remain silent as lives are lost in Gaza.

“We are raising our voices as Muslims in Kenya for the people in Gaza and demanding justice. We will continue to stand with our brothers in Palestine and keep calling for peace and for humanitarian aid to reach those in need,” he said.

Mr Houghton said lobby groups had consistently condemned what they termed as genocide in Palestine, stressing that the killings were a concern not only for Muslims but for all humanity.

“We call on the government of Kenya to issue a consistent and clear statement condemning all violations of international law in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. Our New York and Geneva missions must vote consistently at the United Nations on the right side of history to condemn hostilities, call for the protection of civilians, and demand accountability for war crimes. We must see a two-state solution in our time,” he said.

Nimo Abdiwahab, one of the hundreds of young people who turned out in support of Palestinians, said they would continue to demand peace and stability.

“They are struggling every day while we sleep comfortably. Anything we can do financial support, creating awareness we must do it. We hope for a free Palestine one day,” she said.

[email protected]